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Page last updated at 08:18 GMT, Sunday, 27 July 2008 09:18 UK

Henry under fire after NZ loss

Graham Henry walks from the field before Saturday's defeat by Australia
Henry has an 87% success rate as All Blacks coach

Graham Henry admits he faces a battle to turn the All Blacks' Tri-Nations fortunes around after a second straight loss, 34-19 to Australia, on Saturday.

The Wallabies could claim the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2003 if they win the return game next Saturday.

"We haven't got a lot of time to get better so we need to turn it round pretty quickly," Henry admitted.

"Some of the younger guys found the pace of the game and the intensity difficult. They will learn from that."

Henry is under mounting pressure in New Zealand after back-to-back defeats, the first time the All Blacks have suffered such a fate since 2004.

With a string of leading players having departed to European clubs, a lack of experience and composure was exposed by the Wallabies in Sydney, where the All Blacks succumbed after leading 19-17 early in the second half.

REACTION IN NZ MEDIA
"The fact the mastermind was a man we could have had for the asking left you feeling sick by game's end" (Sun Star-Times)
"It was an absolute shocker by the All Blacks" (Richard Loe in NZ Herald)
"The NZ public will bay for blood on the floor if the All Blacks lose three on the trot" (Rugby Heaven)
"We have a lot of work to do," acknowledged Henry, who should have his captain Richie McCaw available again for the return clash at Auckland's Eden Park. "We've got three games left in this Tri-Nations to turn it round.

"There's a lot of guys who haven't played at this level before, half the side, and they are going to get better with this experience.

"We have to get our structure right before Auckland. We turned over a lot of ball and the way we were playing the game wasn't right.

"We played a lot of football in our half. We're trying to get some structure to play from there, either to kick it or move the ball; maybe we can get a wee bit more balance.

"The game was hugely quick and I think our guys ran out of composure and steam. We were trying to play catch-up a lot of the time in the last quarter of an hour and probably do things that weren't on."

REACTION IN AUSSIE MEDIA
"The Wallabies proved they are no longer hoodwinked by the All Blacks' aura" (Sun-Herald)
"Whatever magic wand Robbie 'Dingo' Deans is wielding, the reinvigorated Wallabies are responding" (Sunday Mail)
"Australia...know for sure they do not have to fear the All Blacks" (Sun-Herald)
The pressure on Henry, who faced a barrage of media criticism after Saturday's defeat, has intensified given that the Wallabies' triumph was masterminded by Robbie "Dingo" Deans, the former Canterbury Crusaders coach who lost out to Henry for the All Blacks job.

Despite maintaining his unbeaten record in five Tests to date, Deans is wary of a New Zealand backlash in Auckland.

"I suspect we've created a rod for our own backs for next week," Deans said.

"Being in Auckland, the All Blacks won't want to go down again.

"They'll be hurting and you'll see the response next week, without a doubt.

'I'll be surprised if Richie McCaw doesn't play next week. It will be a different contest and it's going to be another notch up again."

Deans expects to have his own captain, Stirling Mortlock, available again as the inspirational centre recovers from the concussion he sustained against South Africa.

But flanker Rocky Elsom, who scored one of the Wallabies' four tries on Saturday, will miss the clash in Auckland, where the Wallabies have not won in nine games over 22 years, with a foot injury.

Elsom's condition will be reviewed ahead of the following Tri-Nations match against South Africa in Durban on 23 August.




see also
Australia 34-19 New Zealand
26 Jul 08 |  Rugby Union
Australia 16-9 South Africa
19 Jul 08 |  Rugby Union
Tri-Nations acts to stop exodus
18 Jul 08 |  Rugby Union
New Zealand 28-30 South Africa
12 Jul 08 |  Rugby Union
New Zealand 19-8 South Africa
05 Jul 08 |  Rugby Union
McCaw to miss most of Tri-Nations
22 Jun 08 |  Rugby Union


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